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Click here to return to this month's Article Index The Cutting Edge™ June 2005International Business DevelopmentUS Import and Export Trade StatisticsBy Harold Zassenhaus, WMMA Export Director, hzassenhaus@fernley.com The following is a summary of major trends of US exports and imports for the first quarter of 2005. Statistics are reported for all woodworking equipment and its three component parts: machines, cutting tools and, accessories and parts. (WMMA members: to view detailed tables on US imports and exports of machinery, cutting tools and parts and accessories, by country click here http://www.wmma.org/members/secureDocument.cfm?docID=298). You will need your user name and password. If you don't have one or forgot it, contact WMMA Headquarters at 215-564-3484 or email wmma@fernley.com). Harold Zassenhaus is available to provide US export and import data on specific product categories. For more information, contact him at (215) 564 3484, x2226; fax (215) 963 9785 or email:hzassenhaus@fernley.com) Total Woodworking Equipment Market Imports of woodworking equipment (machinery, cutting tools and parts and accessories) increased 17% over the 1st quarter of 2004 to $409 million. Imports from Taiwan and China accounted for slightly over 43% of the total with imports from China growing by 23% (mostly due to increased cutting tool and accessory shipments) and those from Taiwan decreasing by 9%. As mentioned in previous export and import trade reports, by the end of the year China will likely be the largest supplier nation of woodworking equipment. The major surprise in the first quarter was that imports from our leading European suppliers, Germany and Italy, actually increased and at healthy rates in spite of or because of the US dollar/euro exchange rate. Another surprise was the leap in imports from the Czech Republic, largely due to a $19 million surge in veneer knives. However, this could be an anomaly or a miscoding by US Customs. Exports slowed to a 5% increase compared to 7% in all of 2004. Canada continues to purchase over 40% of our exports, although this percentage is slowly decreasing. Mexico, Germany, Belgium and Australia rounded out the top five markets in the first quarter. Machinery Trade Imports of machinery totaled $226 million, a 9% increase over the same period in 2004. Surprisingly, imports from both Taiwan and China slowed dramatically while imports from our other major suppliers like Germany, Italy, Canada, Austria, Japan, Finland, and Spain increased. Exports increased by 7% less than the rate in 2004 as a whole. The 1st quarter showed some major shipment swings compared to the same period last year. While shipments to our 1st and 2nd largest markets, Canada and Mexico, showed healthy increases, exports to Australia (our 3rd) suffered. Again, Germany was a surprise market with a 71% increase. Cutting Tools Cutting tools imports continued to increase by double digits, rising 30% over 2004 to $125 million. Shipments from China increased 39% to $20 million. As mentioned above shipments of veneer knives from the Czech Republic topped $19 million for the quarter. Finally, also for unknown reasons Germany dramatically increased shipments by 32% to $16 million. Exports inched up 5% to $24 million. Canada still accounts for over 50% of shipments, however its influence is falling as exports to Germany and Belgium racked up gains. Parts & Accessories Exports remained steady at $11 million with shipments to Canada accounting for 73% of the total or $8 million. Imports continued the 2004 trend of recording double digit growth as they rose 27% to $57 million. Imports from China continued to outpace all other major suppliers increasing 176% to $12 million. Imports from Germany, our 3rd largest supplier rose 22% to $9 while imports from Israel, always a major supplier, rose dramatically by 34% to $7 million. Table of Contents
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